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Nike Missile LA-96C Letterbox LbNA #15443 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:geishagirl
Plant date:May 29, 2005
Location:
City:Brentwood
County:Los Angeles
State:California
Boxes:1
Found by: Old Roar
Last found:Nov 27, 2009
Status:FFFFFF
Last edited:May 29, 2005
From www.beneathla.com and www.losangelesalmanac.com:

“During most of the 1950s and much of the 1960s, the United States saw large formations of attacking bombers as its primary strategic threat. Its answer to this threat came to be Nike supersonic anti-aircraft missile launch sites surrounding key American population and industrial centers such as Los Angeles.”

“New military bases guarding strange new devices called Nike Missiles started springing up all over the Southland. The ace card in the military's plan to intercept and shoot down the inevitable nuke-laden waves of Soviet bombers, Nikes sites numbered around 240 nationally by 1958, protecting important cities by a comprehensive ring of sites. Los Angeles and its defense industry were deemed important enough to warrant 16 such sites.

The plan was simple enough. Radar installations in the network detected incoming hostile aircraft before they approached too closely. Integrated fire support worked with the radar information to launch Nike Ajax missiles (these were eventually replaced by the nuclear-capable Hercules model) from the same site, or sometimes an adjunct site nearby, and intercept and destroy the threat.

Today dozens of former Nike sites dot the American landscape, mysterious shrines to an arcane and largely forgotten art. Most of the bases are gutted, stripped to the ground or totally obliterated. A small handful remain in near-pristine condition, time capsules from the dead that have somehow escaped attention or modern intervention in the name of public works or housing. An even smaller handful have been turned into museum-like anthropological exhibits by local park agencies

One such former base sits above the San Fernando Valley on top of San Vicente Mountain. Although most of LA-96C's installations have been removed, several towers and points of interest remain, assisted by many interpretive signs placed by park rangers. Visitors are encouraged to push or pull any button or lever found at the site in the hopes of possibly activating a dormant warning siren.”

This letterbox takes you to the old LA-96C base site. The hike is about 3.5 miles in one direction on a slight incline (11%grade; thanks Buzzard for the specs!). The hiking trail also doubles as a mountain biking trail for you biking enthusiasts. Bring lots of water, and even a picnic lunch. There are picnic tables and bathrooms at LA-96C. They also have some coin-operated telescopes there, so bring some quarters too!

Take the 405 freeway from either direction and exit at Sunset Blvd. Go west on Sunset and turn right onto Mandeville Canyon Road. In about 3 blocks, make a left onto Westridge Road. Go all the way to the end of Westridge and park in the cul-de-sac (about 2 miles). At the end ot the cul-de-sac, beyond the gate, you will see a sign showing a map of the Santa Monica Conservancy. As you face the map, you will see a trail to your left going up the mountain (this is the only trail there). This is the trail that will take you to the LA-96C letterbox.

Take this trail for about three miles to get to the LA-96C site. You will pass several areas along the way where the paths split up. The general rule is to take the path that a small auto would fit on. After about 2.5 miles, you will see the radar tower off in the distance.

When you finally get to the site, go up to the top of the tower/observation deck. This is actually the tower that held one of the radars used for detecting missiles. Walk to the west side of the tower and look down. You will see a path going down along the side of the tower to a wider paved service road. Go down to this road and walk along it until you come to a white gate where the path you’re on and the service road meet.

When you reach the gate, turn around and you will see LA-96C signs on both sides of the path. Stand in front of the LA-96C sign on your left. Behind this sign you will see an old cinder block entry booth with a parking gate raised behind it. Go into the booth. Stick your head out the rear window of the booth and look down. At the left hand corner in the rear of the booth you will see a block of concrete. The Nike Missile LA-96C box is located under this block of concrete. It is definitely easier to get the LB from outside of the booth. One caution: the block is quite heavy.

Please rehide well and let me know how this box is doing! Hike back the way you came to get back to your car. Enjoy your time there!


HINT: There is an easier way to access site via Mulholland drive that will take you almost directly to the letterbox. You just need to figure out how!!





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